Brace told Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador that for some time he and Trevor Pardy were having differences of opinion on how to conduct the defence.

Brace, who gave no details on differences between himself and his former client, said it culminated last night with Pardy firing him, and that there had been an irreparable breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship.

Pardy is charged with first-degree murder for the alleged shooting death of his former girlfriend, Triffie Wadman, on Boggy Hall Place in St. John's in October 2011.

Justice Wayne Dymond made it clear he was not happy with the 11th-hour development, and told Brace that "the court has to be suspect" that something was going on. Brace said no games were being played.